Productivity / Performance

Good news: Appeals court nixes idea that PIP is always adverse action

04/13/2026

Employers are free to manage their workforce through evaluations and, if work is found to be lacking in quantity or quality, create an improvement plan without worrying that constructive criticism will land them in court.

Sudden poor performance after stellar work grounds for discharge

03/23/2026

Sometimes, performance deteriorates slowly, and the employer has plenty of time to document the decline. But there are other times when an employee who seems to have been a stellar performer declines suddenly. That’s when employers should document the extent of the problem and take prompt action.

The ‘Big Stay’ puts engagement at risk

03/23/2026

A stable workforce is only an asset if it’s also a motivated one. The risk of the big stay is stagnation, not turnover. Workers who feel trapped rather than loyal will drag down productivity and engagement.

Performance record essential to defeat FMLA interference claims

01/20/2026

Employers can’t interfere with the right of an employee to take FMLA leave if that employee qualifies. But what if the employee has documented performance problems prior to leave? Can the employer still discipline the employee if that discipline would have been appropriate had the employee not requested leave?

Rethinking workplace diversity: Why thought matters

01/12/2026

Cognitive diversity, defined as the range of expertise, experiences, information, perspectives and ways of thinking within a team, drives the performance gains companies seek.

How to respond when half your team is burned out

12/05/2025

Burnout continues to surge across U.S. workplaces, with new data from Eagle Hill Consulting showing that 55% of employees are currently experiencing it. For HR professionals, the findings highlight an urgent need to guide managers, stabilize teams and address the structural issues fueling employee exhaustion.

Purpose at work emerges as a hidden driver of engagement

11/24/2025

A new national study suggests that employers may be overlooking one of the clearest predictors of engagement: whether employees feel a sense of purpose in their daily work.

Study claims productivity could jump 10% with improved performance management

11/10/2025

Productivity isn’t lagging for lack of effort—it’s stalled by ineffective systems. According to new research from WTW, nearly half of organizations say productivity could rise by at least 10% if they optimized their performance-management processes. Yet only 39% believe their current programs meet employee expectations for clarity, fairness and alignment with rewards.

How to set up a mentorship program to drive career development

11/03/2025

No matter the level, all employees (including yourself, of course) can benefit from finding a mentor before making a workplace blunder. Here’s how HR departments can implement an official mentoring program.

Resistance over return-to-office mandates intensifies

10/06/2025

A new survey from FlexJobs, an employment-finding service, shows employee resistance to return-to-office mandates has reached a breaking point.